News
Book review
We find Dan,
quivering in a
deserted park
Standing By Us
cottage. He’s
sleeping rough
to escape the
harsh treatment Our campaign, Stand By Me, calls for independent advocates for
suffered at home.
Our feelings are disabled children placed away from home. Your support has helped
mixed, because
earlier we had us deliver our campaign petition to the Minister for Children.
disregarded him
as the school bully.
Aunty Relda’s
In our last issue, we told you about
Journey is a book
our campaign, Stand By Me, calling
that deals with the for independent advocacy for
topical issue of
13,300 disabled children who
bullying. It abandons
live away from home. Between
the standard
heroes-and-
October 2006 and January 2007
villains approach
we urged all our supporters to sign
to realistically up to this campaign so that we
portray how young
could demonstrate to the Minister
people often hide
their problems.
for Children, Beverley Hughes MP,
how many people understand
Author and poet the importance of this issue for
Elaine Coltham
disabled children.
explains: ‘As a youth
worker, I’ve become
acutely aware of
The response was overwhelming.
children’s problems.
You showed phenomenal support
A common thread is and we’d like to thank the 17,000+
that young people
of you who put your name to this
are afraid to talk
and get help.
campaign. The Minister is currently
In the novel, the
leading on a government paper
character’s lives called Care Matters, which is
become easier as
reviewing the services provided
soon as they’ve
for disabled children, including
shared their fears.’
the provision of independent away from home and of working
Aunty Relda, the
advocacy. This has provided with an independent advocate.
title character, is a us with an excellent opportunity From their testimonies it was clear
mediator, counsellor
to work with government on that each of the young people had
and friend with a
charm that sparkles
this campaign. experienced difficulties in accessing
when her strength
services, hadn’t been consulted
is shared. On 11 January 2007, our Chief
when key decisions were being
Executive, Bob Reitemeier and made about their lives and had
Elaine is using her
representatives from the Policy been excluded from fundamental
latest title to raise
money for The
Unit and Campaigns team met with social provisions such as education.
Children’s Society.
Beverley Hughes MP and delivered
London, 11 January
For every copy sold, all the signatures. We will keep you updated as to 20-year-old Rizwan from London
£2.00 will be
the Government’s response to
presents Beverley Hughes MP (above) with
donated to our work.
During this meeting, the Minister this campaign and please visit
The Children’s Society’s open letter and
Aunty Relda’s
met with three disabled young www.childrenssociety.org.uk/
signatures of support for its campaign to
ensure all disabled children placed away
Journey is available people who talked with her about
campaigns for up-to-date
from home have unconditional access to
by post for £7.99,
their experiences of being placed information on our progress.. an independent advocate.
plus £1.00 postage
& packing, from
Elaine Coltham,
14 Mersey Road, My story:
Ipswich, Suffolk
IP3 0QP.
I was beginning to get into trouble with the police. One time I threw a ball through my
Please allow up to neighbour’s window. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was angry and wanted to
21 days for delivery.
www.elaine
take it out on something. Someone from The Children’s Society set up a meeting with
coltham.co.uk
my neighbour. It was tough. I didn’t realise how scared I had made her feel. She was a
nice woman and I felt really bad. I don't get into trouble now. Gavin, 16
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